Weeds or Wonder Drugs? 11 Plants NOT to Pull Out of Your Spring Garden!

You never see broccoli pushing up through concrete. But what does—those pesky plants often referred to as weeds—can be superior to your garden-grown vegetable fare. Not only are some weeds actually wild foods loaded with more nutrients than our domesticated seed stock, but many of them are potent medicines, too. Consider cultivating instead of pulling these eleven plants from your spring garden.

Nettles: An incredible blood detoxifier, diuretic, laxative and treatment for hayfever. Has also shown promise in treating Alzheimer's and ADHD. Topically it can relieve dandruff and stop bleeding.

Echinacea: Commonly used to thwart colds and flu, it can also be taken to reduce lymphatic swelling, urinary tract inections, herpes, candida and applied topically to heal wounds and treat skin conditions.

All herbs can be dried and brewed into teas, or soaked in alcohol to make tinctures. They can also be blended into topical ointments.